RTCA DO-377B-2023 PDF

Full title and description

Minimum Aviation System Performance Standards for C2 Link Systems Supporting Operations of Unmanned Aircraft Systems in U.S. Airspace — RTCA DO-377B (MASPS defining performance, safety, security and operational requirements for Command & Control (C2) Link Systems used to support unmanned aircraft operations in U.S. airspace).

Abstract

DO-377B is a Minimum Aviation System Performance Standard (MASPS) that defines the expected performance, safety assessment approach, and system behavior for C2 Link Systems (the end-to-end capability that carries command, control, status and supporting data between a Control Station and an Uncrewed/Unmanned Aircraft). The document addresses Air/Ground and Ground/Ground links, system-level operational performance assessments (OPA), operational safety assessments (OSA), security and data-transfer/routing functions, and includes updated CONOPS that expand low-altitude delivery, air taxi and similar use cases.

General information

• Status: Active / Published.
• Publication date: 14 December 2023 (DO-377B release).
• Publisher: RTCA, Inc.; developed by RTCA Special Committee SC-228.
• ICS / categories: Aviation communications and systems; Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) C2 performance; airspace integration.
• Edition / version: DO-377B (2023 revision / "B" revision of the DO-377 family).
• Number of pages: Approximately 1,058 pages (full MASPS document length).

Scope

DO-377B establishes minimum system-level performance standards for C2 Link Systems used to support UAS operations across U.S. airspace (including oceanic airspace managed by the U.S. ATO, with specific airspace exceptions described in the standard). The MASPS focuses on the C2 Link System functions required to support the Control Station (CS) and Unmanned Aircraft (UA) executive management, data transfer, security and routing (DTSR) and one or more links between CS and UA; it does not prescribe user-data content or specific design assurance levels but provides the performance and safety objectives to inform system design and regulatory approval. The document also supplies CONOPS and use cases (including low-altitude delivery and related scenarios) that were used to derive the operational performance and safety requirements.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition and architecture of a C2 Link System (Air/Ground and Ground/Ground elements; DTSR functions).
• Operational Performance Assessments (OPA) and Operational Safety Assessments (OSA) to derive system-level requirements.
• System performance metrics for availability, latency, continuity, integrity and throughput appropriate to supported CONOPS.
• Security, authentication, and data routing requirements for safe C2 operation.
• CONOPS-driven requirements (including Low Altitude Delivery, air taxi and expanded UAS operations scenarios) used to validate the MASPS requirements.
• Guidance on how the MASPS informs certification and approval (it does not assign fixed DALs; designers select appropriate assurance based on risk and CONOPS).

These topics and requirements are described in detail in the DO-377B MASPS.

Typical use and users

Primary users are UAS manufacturers and integrators, C2 link service providers (C2CSPs), avionics and radio vendors, system architects, test laboratories, and regulatory authorities (FAA and associated industry working groups) who use DO-377B to define, design, test and certify C2 Link Systems supporting advanced UAS operations. Operators planning beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS), low-altitude delivery, air taxi, or other expanded UAS services will use the standard as a technical means of compliance input.

Related standards

DO-377B builds on and sits alongside related RTCA/EUROCAE standards for UAS communications and safety, including earlier DO-377 editions (original DO-377 and DO-377A), related radio and C2 MOPS (for example DO-362/DO-362A family), and other RTCA MASPS/MOPS and FAA advisory guidance used in certification. Industry and RTCA work on supporting documents (for example standards addressing specific radio bands and UHF performance) complement DO-377B.

Keywords

C2 Link, MASPS, DO-377B, UAS, uncrewed aircraft, command and control, BVLOS, CONOPS, operational performance, security, RTCA SC-228.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: DO-377B is a Minimum Aviation System Performance Standard (MASPS) published by RTCA that specifies system-level performance, safety assessment methods and operational requirements for Command & Control (C2) Link Systems supporting unmanned/uncrewed aircraft operations in U.S. airspace.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the C2 Link System definition and architecture, performance metrics (availability, latency, continuity, integrity), operational and safety assessment approaches (OPA/OSA), security/data routing (DTSR) functions, and CONOPS/use-cases (including low-altitude delivery and other expanded operations) that drive requirements. It provides guidance to inform certification and regulatory approval without mandating fixed DALs.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: UAS manufacturers and integrators, C2 link service providers, avionics and radio vendors, test labs, system architects, and regulators (FAA and industry committees) use DO-377B to design, test and demonstrate compliance of C2 Link Systems for advanced UAS operations.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: DO-377B is the published "B" revision of the DO-377 family released in December 2023 and is the current DO-377 variant intended to reflect expanded CONOPS and updated system-level MASPS; implementers should confirm they are using the latest revision available from RTCA.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — DO-377B is part of the DO-377 family and relates to other RTCA documents (earlier DO-377 editions, DO-377A, and supporting MOPS/MASPS such as radio performance standards and DAA-related documents) that together form the normative and supporting guidance for UAS C2 and integration into the NAS.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Key keywords include C2 Link, MASPS, DO-377B, UAS, BVLOS, CONOPS, command and control, operational performance, security, RTCA SC-228.